Thomas d



(No Model.)

TI DI SHOE FASTBNING.

No. 577,020.` l Patented Feb. 16, 1897.

Tw: Nomus Perses so., ruo'roumo. wwnnvou. o. c.

UNrTnn Sterns ATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS D. GADDIE, OF CLINTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO J. H. SHELTON, J. C. SPEIGHT, AND JERRY M. PORTER, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-FASTENING.

SPECIFGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,020, dated February 16, 189'?. Application filed May 19, 1896. Serial No. 592,140. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it .may concern: which is adapted to be attached at its oppo- Be it known that I, THOMAS D. GADDIE, a site edge to the other edge of the fly by suitcitizen of the United States, residing at Clinable fastenings, such as eyes 2 and hooks 3. ton, in the county of Hickman and State of The lower end of the elastic strip is stitched 5 Kentucky, have invented a new and useful to that portion of the upper adjacent to the Shoe-Fastening, of which the following is a lower end of the fly and reinforces the latter. specification. The elastic strip l is secured to the edge This invention relates to shoes of that class portions of the Hy a short distance from the having the upper provided with a ily, which edges thereof, thereby leaving a projecting 6o 1o is secured by buttons, laces, buckles, or other lip 4 to hide the edge portion of the elastic like fastenings. strip when the latter is distended. A stay 5 The purpose of this invention is to close is stitched to the free edge of the elastic strip and secure the ily by means of an elastic l and corresponds to the lip 4 and has a prostrip, which may be permanently secured jecting edge portion corresponding to the said 15 along one edge to an edge of the fly and delip 4, and this stay is adapted to be gripped tachably connected at the opposite edge by when fastening and unfastening the shoe, means of suitable fastenings with the other thereby providing a convenient means for edge of the iy, or which may be attached at the fingers to obtain a grip upon for expandboth edges to the edges of the ii y by removing the elastic strip when required. A strap 7o zo able fastenings, as desired. 6 is attached tothe elastic strip at a point in- The principal objects resulting from the termediate of its edges and comes between invention are neatness, closeness of fit, ease the projecting parts 4 and 5 and receives a and comfort to the wearer, adaptation to the suitable ornamentation to give avneat finish size of the foot, a yielding to the various and attractive appearance to the shoe. The 2 5 movements, and provision afforded for ornastay 5 is ornamented in any desired manner mentation and embellishment, ease and raand is secured at its lower end to a portion pidity in fastening'. of the upper to one side of the fly and has a For a full understanding of the merits and corresponding part at the opposite side of advantages of the invention reference is to the fly to cause both sides of the shoe to ap- 8o 3o be had to the accompanying drawings and pear alike.

the following description. The elastic strip l may be of rubber or a The improvement is susceptible of various combination of rubber and fabric, or otherchanges in the form, )roportion, and the miwise constructed so as to attain the desired nor details of construction without departing end, namely, of yieldingly connecting the 3 5 from the principle or sacrificing any of the edge portions of the fly.

advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of lVhile the invention is designed especially the invention an adaptation thereof is shown for shoes, it will be understood that it may in the accompanying drawings, in whichbe applied to wearing-apparel having the Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe equivalent of a iiy, such as gloves, corsets, 9o 4o having the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a dethe., so as to connect the separated parts after tail view of the fly portion of the upper, showthey are brought together. ing the relation of the connecting iiexible or Having thus described the invention,what elastic strip. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the is claimed as new isupper portion of the elastic strip as seen from 1. The combination With a shoe having a 45 the rear side. Fig. 4is a detail section showiiy, of an elastic strip secured atone edge to ing the invention operatively related. the fly a short distance from its edge, form- The shoe illustrated is of the type having ing a projecting portion or lip, astrip secured a iiy, the latter being closed by an elastic to the free edge of the said elastic strip and strip l, which has connection at one edge having a projecting part forming alip to corroo 5o with an edge portion of the Iiy by means of respond with the aforesaid lip, and corre# stitching or other suitable fastening, and sponding fastenings along the free edges of ro jecting portions atthe edges of the elastic strip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS D. GADDIE.

Titnesses T. K. TAYLOR, J. L. DODGE. 

